The spate of killings in Mindanao is expected to continue after Congress and Senate approved on Wednesday the extension of martial law, a militant Moro group said, noting that it is being used by President Rodrigo Duterte to cling in power.
“The one change he brought is more killings.”
Joshua hugged his uncle Junard and said, “Nahadlok ako” (I’m afraid) while the soldiers searched their house and belongings.
The group, headed by representatives of the IFI Diocese of Libertad, were in a meeting at the Mother Francisca Spirituality Center at Radasa St., Ladao, General Santos City when the police barged in and served a warrant of arrest for three persons whose names were unknown to them.
May 23, 2017 marked the beginning of two catastrophes that befell the people of Mindanao; one year later, the harsh impact on their daily lives and the profound trauma in their individual and collective psyche seem far from being assuaged. First, there was the so-called siege of Marawi City, a nearly-five-month war between the state…
“One year is already one far too long.”
“The Duterte regime has targeted not only individuals, but entire communities, using bombs to threaten and intimidate hundreds of residents.”
In times of war and militarization, the children and the youth are subjected to all types of atrocities and all forms of violence, not least of all of strafing and indiscriminate firing.
Under martial law extended till the end of 2018 in the whole of Mindanao, the Duterte government has unleashed “a dirty and brutal war” against communities of farmers and indigenous peoples/national minorities aimed at “instilling fear and terror and silencing their long struggle for land,[human] rights, and justice.” The continuing extrajudicial killings (EJKs) have claimed…
They vowed to stand up against the attacks on people’s democratic rights.
By MARA S. GENOTIVA Davao Today TAGUM CITY – An international fact-finding and solidarity mission bound to check on reported human rights violations was blocked twice by military checkpoints on Saturday entering Maco, Compostela Valley. The mission comprised of 200 persons was earlier “welcomed” on their arrival on Friday with streamers calling them to “Stay…